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Children and Kidney Disease

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Some diseases and conditions put children at risk for kidney disease. Just like for adults, a urine test is used to check for kidney disease befor​e symptoms appear. Learn about the risk factors, urine test, and treatment for kidney disease below.

What do the kidneys do?

Your child has two kidneys. Their main job is to filter wastes and extra water from the blood. Wastes and water pass through the kidneys and leave the body as urine. The kidneys also make hormones that help the body make blood and keep the bones strong

What is kidney disease?

Infections or other health problems can cause kidney disease. When a child has kidney disease, the kidneys may not work normally. This may lead to high blood pressure or a harmful buildup of wastes in the body.

How can I find out if my child has kidney disease?

A urine test can be used to check for kidney disease if your child is at risk. Testing is important because early kidney disease often has no symptoms. Your child will urinate in a cup, and the sample will be tested for kidney disease.

What does the urine test look for?

The urine test checks for albumin. Albumin is a protein in the blood that is too big to pass through healthy kidneys. If your child's kidneys are damaged, small amounts of albumin can pass into the urine through the kidneys. In general, the more albumin there is in the urine, the more damaged the kidneys are.

What does high urine albumin mean?

A high urine albumin level may mean that your child has kidney disease. Your health care provider may do other tests for kidney disease, including a blood test, which checks how well the kidneys are filtering.

Can kidney disease be treated?

Kidney disease has many possible causes. The first step is to learn the cause of the kidney disease. Medicine and other treatments usually can't undo the damage that has been done, but they may help prevent more harm. Your provider may ask you to take your child to a pediatric nephrologist - a doctor who treats children with kidney disease.

How do I know if my child is at risk for kidney disease?

Your child may be at risk for kidney disease if he or she:

is overweight

has pain in the back, side, or lower belly

complains of burning or pain when urinating, has changes in the urine, or often wets his or her pants

has unexplained fever

has swelling in the feet, ankles, or legs

wakes up with swollen eyelids

becomes dehydrated often

has a family member with kidney disease

Other conditions that may put your child at increased risk for kidney disease include:

SGA (small for gestational age) or born premature

a growth disorder

diabetes

high blood pressure

rickets (soft bones caused by too little vitamin D)

other conditions that run in families, such as polycystic kidney disease, Alport Syndrome, or heart disease

becomes dehydrated often

has a family member with kidney disease

For more information about kidney disease in children call the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse toll free at 1-800-891-5390 or visit the Kidney Diseases A-Z Topic List.

Clinical Trials

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support research into many diseases and conditions.

What are clinical trials, and are they right for you?Clinical trials are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease. Researchers also use clinical trials to look at other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses. Find out if clinical trials are right for you.

What clinical trials are open?Clinical trials that are currently open and are recruiting can be viewed at www.ClinicalTrials.gov.

This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings through its clearinghouses and education programs to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

This information is not copyrighted. The NIDDK encourages people to share this content freely.